LVP in East Kolkata Wetlands: An eco-lifeline to the city ,Let us save its life and legacy!
The Local Volunteer Project (LVP) East Kolkata Wetlands is primarily focused onemployee engagement programme for Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) volunteers to build awareness on scope and challenges of East Kolkata Wetland and contribute to the ongoing study and research activities in East Kolkata Wetland .The year long events under this project is funded by Earthwatch Institute , UK as part of the UK programme of activities funded by HSBC Bank within the HSBC Climate Partnership (HCP). The HSBC Climate Partnership is a five year programme that brings together HSBC, The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and WWF to tackle the urgent threat of climate change on people, water, forests and cities.
Background :
The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) is a multifunctional wetland ecosystem comprising of sewage fed fisheries, small agricultural plots, small wetlands and solid waste farms. This is one of the largest waste water fed aqua culture system and a Ramsar Site,besides being the source of oxygen for millions living in Kolkata and is thus rightly called ‘the lungs of Kolkata’.
EKW provides livelihood for a wide cross section of people through fishing, rag-picking, eco-tourism among others besides serving this huge urban population of Kolkata with a very cheap, efficient and eco-friendly system of solid waste and sewer treatment system, habitat for a large flora and fauna and several migratory and resident birds. It is also home to the endemic Marsh Mongoose. However, because of increasing pressure of urbanization, change in the quality and quantity of the solid waste and sewer, as also human neglect, this Ramsar site is under threat from various directions-encroachments due to rapid urbanisation, change in nature of waste disposal, lack of management and even poaching of migratory birds.
Aim:
Increased awareness about sustainable management of the ecologically sensitive East Kolkata Wetlands engaging civil section of the society , being ‘a citizen scientist for a day’.
Objective:
Implement an employee engagement programme for HSBC volunteers on the following focus areas.
● Study of Marsh Mongoose.
● Identification of flora and fauna.
● Water quality and ambient air quality monitoring, soil sampling.
● Plastic cleaning & its importance
● Interaction with fisherman community/school children around.
With the help of data generated as part of this project, the objective would be to develop a comprehensive scientific report, which could be instrumental for developing an effective management and conservation plan for this region of ecological significance.
Key Areas:
Research
● Documentation of flora and fauna
● Assessment of current population status and threats to the endemic Marsh Mongoose
● Water, Air and Soil Quality Assessment
● Learning and Engagement
● Creating ‘eco-volunteers’: Developing an interactive ‘walk and learn’ model for sensitizing volunteers and students from neighbouring schools, community about the birds and other faunal species in the region and relevance of EKW as a Ramsar Site
● Interactive skill sharing sessions between volunteers from HSBC and fishermen on the sustainable business model of fishery.
Community Initiative
Interaction with the Fisherfolk community: Participating in the ‘fish watch’ programme and understanding the dependence of the fisherfolk on these wetlands for their livelihood.
We hope to support the ongoing governmental activities to come out with best conservation practice for East Kolkaat Wetlands.
